Container having a hinged cover



May 5, 1953 c. J. YATES CONTAINER HAVING A HINGED COVER Filed May 2, 1951 INV NTOR Patented May 5, 1953 CONTAINER HAVING A HINGED COVER Cyril J. Yates, Henderson, Ky., assignor t0 Tri- State Plastic Molding 00., Henderson, Ky., a

limited partnership Application May 2, 1951, Serial No. 224,165

7 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes or containers having hinged covers and, more particularly, to an improved construction of a scalable container of such type which cannot be non-destructively opened without destroying the seal.

The containers or boxes to which the invention relates are used for the packaging of material which must be maintained in a sealed condition until used. For example, packages of cigars have an Internal Revenue stamp so aflixed to the container and cover that the cigars cannot be removed Without breaking the seal, or, alternatively, destroying the container or its cover. In this particular instance, the motivating purpose is to prevent the re-filling of a properly stamped contained incorporating taxprepaid merchandise with non-tax-paid merchandise without destruction of the stamp.

The design of such boxes has presented a great deal of difficulty, due to the above requirements combined with the necessity of making the box as inexpensive as possible. In order to prevent opening of the cover without breaking the seal, it has hitherto been deemed necessary to resort to complicated hinging arrangements which increase the costs of fabricating and assembling the box and its cover. Such complications have hitherto precluded the fabrication of such boxes by inexpensive molding of the body and cover from plastic composition material.

In accordance with the present invention, a

novel molded plastic box is provided having a novel hinging arrangement, and elements cooperative therewith, whereby, after assembly, the cover can be opened only by swinging about the hinge line, and horizontal, lateral and vertical displacement of the cover relative to the box is inhibited unless the hinge connection or cover is broken. In addition, both the box body and the cover are designed for production molding and simple assembly.

To this end, the rear wall of the box body is provided with two or more sets of rearwardly projecting female hinge members, each set comprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate arms. These arcuate arms are concave in opposed directions so as to conjointly provide a receptacle for the male hinge element. The outer ends of the arcuate arms are vertically spaced to leave a clearance opening somewhat less than as to align with the space between the two arms of a hinge set. Hinge pintle members project in coaxial opposed relation from the opposite surfaces of each rib for engagement in the concave sides of the respective arms of each female hinge set.

The body and cover are assembled by placing both in the upwardly opening position with the arms on the cover each aligned with the lateral slot formed between the elements of a female hinge set. The cover is then forced toward the body so that the pintles slightly spread the female hinge elements to allow for entry of the pintles thereinto. As the pintles pass through the jaws of the female hinge elements, with each arm entering the corresponding slot, and move into the facing concavities, the female hinge elements spring back into place to embrace the pintles and form the hinging structure.

The cover may now be swung to closed position and, in such closed position, over even a partly open position, cannot be displaced from the body. The cover ribs or arms, engaged in the slots between the laterally spaced female elements of each hinge set, prevent displacement longitudinally of the hinge line. If it is attempted to slide the cover rearwardly, either parallel to the body, or in any angular relation thereto less than about 90, the rear cover rib strikes the upwardly projecting convex portion of the upper female element of each set before the pintle can move between the female hinge set jaws. Vertical displacement of the cover relative to the body is prevented by the two laterally spaced elements of each female hinge set, one of which elements lies beneath a pintle on one side of the rib and the other of which overlies the pintle on the other side of the rib. Hence, the cover can be opened, without destroying the box or the hinges, only by swinging about the hinge line.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a completed box embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the body and cover just prior to assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of g.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the body and cover partially inter-engaged;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the open box after assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the box ll! of the invention comprises a body and a hinged cover 36. Body 15 has a bottom wall ll, side walls l2;-.anda* rear wall l3. The-body i5 is molded in one' piece from any suitable plastic composition material such as, for example, a polystyrene.

At spaced points along its upper edge, rear wall I3 is formed with female hingesets two sets generally being provided as shown in the illustrated example. set comprises a pair of rearwardly projecting strap elements 2| and 22, which are laterally spaced to provide a slot 23. Eachstrap element has a short section 24 substantially parallel to the box bottom ll. Following section ll, elements 21 are formed with upwardly concave arcuate recess portions 26, and elements 22 with downwardly concave (upwardly convex) arcuate recess portions 21 (Figs. 3, 4' and 6). Ar'cuate portions 26 and 21 have a common center line and equalradii, the common centerline being the box hinge line.

The elements terminate in outer edges 23, 29 which have a vertical spacing somewhat less thanfthe diameter of the circle or cylinder formed by the respective arcuate portions 25, 211 It should be noted that the plastic composition material is somewhat resilient, so that elements 2!, 22 mayl be sprung apart to increase the gap between outer edges 23, 23. Also, the upwardly convex elements 22 are each outwardly of the-associated upwardly concave element 22.

Cover 30 is'also molded,.as a one-piece member.- from a suitable plastic composition material having some resiliency, a polystyrene being. .1

one such material by way of example. The cover is essentiall-yashallow dish having a fiat base 3T merging smoothly into a-peripheral rim or flange 32 of some depth. At points along the rear section 33 of rim 3?, so spaced as to align with gaps 23, cover 30 is formed with rearwardly projecting verticalarms or ribs 35. Each rib has its upper and lower edges merging smoothly into flange section 33' and flat part 31 of the cover, and the outer ends of' ribs 35 are extended downwardly forming annular abutments 34 having radii substantially equal to the outersurface radii of female hinge elements 2|, 22-.

Projecting axially from either side of abutments 34 are hinge pintles, 42 having a length substantially equalto'the width of elements 21, 22, the width of ribs 35, and particularly abutments 34, being substantially equal to the spacings of elements 2!, 22 or the width of gaps-2'3 The radii of pintles M, 472- is equal to the inner radii ofarcuate recesses 2G, 21 of the female hinge elements. Consequently, when the body and cover are assembled, a smoothly conforming, closely fitting hinge arrangement is provided.

The cover 30 and body l5 are assembledby placing both in parallel, upwardly open relation, with the body walls and cover rim 35 facing upwardly, and the rear edges of the body and cover adjacent and ribs 35 aligned with slots 23. The cover and body are then moved toward each other so that ribs 35 enter slots or gaps 23 and pintles 4|, 42 engage the outer edges 28, 29' of the female hinge elments 2|, 22. As

Each female hinge 4 the cover and body are forced toward each other, pintle 42 springs element 52 upwardly and pintle 4| springs element 2| downwardly so that the pintles enter the respective arcuate recesses 2'! and 26, with the elements 2|, 22 springing back to position so that the pintles are firmly held by the female hinge elements.

Cover-35.! can now bevswung about the hinge line relative to body l5,-.and the-hinges can be disengaged provided that the cover and body are again swung to the open substantially parallel position and a separating force exerted thereon. However, unless the cover is swung to at least-a substantially perpendicular position, the cover and body. cannot be disengaged withoutbreaking the hinge elements, pintles, or ribs 35. In any position of the cover, ribs 35 prevent movement parallel to the hinge line, by virtue of engagement between elements 2!, 22. In any position of the cover less than substantially to the body, rear sectiontt-lof cover rim 32will abut the upwardly convex surface of elements ZE-beforethe pintlescanbemovedfar enough rearwardly to snap out of the arcuate. recesses 25, 27. The pintleunderlying. and overlying relations of elements 24,.22: prevent disengagement by. upward or downward: moveament of the cover relativesto the-body; Hence, when the cover is closed. and a seal 40aflixed; to its front edge and to body. l5, it-is impossiblm to non-destructively open the box- Wllihflllbl breaking the seal 40.

The box is. easily and simply" manufactured. and assembled. The. body [5. and'cover '3wcam be production line moldedsimultaneously witheach other, with the operation SGfi-I'lflllgQdfihflt a cover and body arriversimultaneouslyat an assembly. point. At this'poi-nt, or. at-a station provided with supplies ofbodies and covers; I the box is simply assembled bytheprocesspreviously described, without complicated procedures or 'thw employmentof highly skilled labor.

While a specific-embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in: detail; to.

illustrate the applicationof-the principles-theme of, it should be understood thattthe invention may be otherwiseembodied without departing. from such principles.

What is claimed-is:

l. A scalable box'comprising,.incombinationya body having abase and boundarywalls,-.one;vo'f said walls having projecting-therefrom at: least. a pairof female hinge sets,each set comprising:

a pair of resilient strap-elementsspaced latera ally fromeach other toprovide a slot: therew between, and said elements being. shaped to provide diametrically oppositely facing: coaxi. ally elongated and substantially semi cylindricall.

inge pintle-bearingsurfaces, and. a1cove'r comprising a flat portion substantially congruent?" with said base, said cover havingprojecting therefrom atleast a -pair of ribs: spacedfrom each-- other to align with such" slots. said ribs lying in planes substantially normal to that of said flat portion and extending from said cover substantially parallel to said flat portion, and each rib having projecting from opposite sides thereof coaxial substantially cylindrical hinge pintles, the outer ends of saidelements' being so related as to provide a circumferential 'discontinuity inthe-pintle bearing surfaces of lessextent than the diameter of said pintles, said cover being assembled tos'aid b'ox byi'nserti'ng the ribs; intosaid slots and engaging'said pintles in said bearing surfaces by spreading of the outer ends of said elements.

2. A sealable box comprising, in combination, a body having a base and boundary walls integral with the base, one of said walls having projecting therefrom at least a pair of female hinge sets, each set comprising a pair of resilient strap elements spaced laterally from, each other to provide a slot therebetween, and said elements being shaped to provide diametrically oppositely facing coaxially elongated and substantially semicylindrical hinge pintle bearing surfaces, and a cover comprising a flat portion substantially congruent with said base and a peripheral rim integral with said fiat portion and coextensive with the outer peripheries of said boundary walls, the rim of said cover having projecting therefrom at least a pair of ribs spaced from each other to align with such slots, said ribs lying in planes substantially normal to that of said fiat portion and extending from said rim substantially parallel to said flat portion, and each rib having projecting from opposite sides thereof coaxial substantially cylindrical hinge pintles, the outer ends of said elements being so related as to provide a circumferential discontinuity in the pintle bearing surfaces of less extent than the diameter of said pintles, said cover being assembled to said box by inserting the ribs into said slots and engaging said pintles in said bearing surfaces by spreading of the outer ends of said elements.

3. A sealable box comprising, in combination, a body having a base and boundary Walls integral with the base, one of said walls having projecting therefrom at least a pair of female hinge sets, each set comprising a pair of resilient strap elements spaced laterally from each other to pro vide a slot therebetween, and one element of each set having an upwardly convex arcuate portion and the other element having a downwardly convex arcuate portion, said arcuate portions providing coaxially elongated andsubstantially semi-cylindrical, axially spaced hinge pintle bear ing surfaces, and the outer ends of said elements being so related as to provide a circumferential discontinuity in the pintle bearing surfaces of less extent than the diameter of said pintle bearing surfaces, and a cover comprising a fiat portion substantially congruent with said base and a peripheral rim integral with said flat portion and co-extensive with the outer peripheries of said boundary walls, the rim of said cover having projecting therefrom at least a pair of ribs spaced from each other to align with such slots,

said ribs lying in planes substantially normal to that of said flat portion and extending from said rim substantially parallel to said flat portion, and each rib having projecting from opposite sides thereof coaxial substantially cylindrical hinge pintles each having a diameter substantially equal to that of said arcuate bearing portions, said cover being assembled to said box by inserting the ribs into said slots and engaging said pintles in said bearing surfaces by spreading of the outer ends of said elements.

4. A sealable box as claimed in claim 3, in which the upwardly convex arcuate portions of said elements extend above the upper edges of said Walls to lie in the plane of the cover rim when the cover is closed, the distance between the outer edge of said cover rim and the nearer surfaces of said upwardly convex portions being less than the distance said pintles must be moved for disengagement from said female elements, whereby to prevent disengagement of said cover from said box by movement of said cover substantially parallel to said box base, said ribs inserted in said slots being held against movement axially of the hinge line by said female elements.

5. A sealable box as claimed in claim 3, in which each rib terminates in a circular abutment having a radius substantially equal to the outer radii of said convex portions and said pintles are coaxial with said abutments.

6. A sealable box as claimed in claim 3, in which each rib terminates in a circular abutment having a radius substantially equal to the outer radii of said convex portions and said pinties are coaxial with said abutments and each substantially equal in length to the width of a strap element, the width of said abutment substantially equalling that of said slot.

7. A sealable box as claimed in claim 3, in which there are a pair of hinge sets and the upwardly convex element of each pair lies outwardly of the downwardly convex element, inhibiting disengagement of the hinge by relative twisting movement of the cover and body.

CYRIL J. YATES.

References (Jilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,070,194 Shine Aug. 12, 1913 2,315,801 Lave Apr. 6, 1943 2,570,341 Hake Oct. 9, 1951 

